Detector for insulated-wire machines



Feb. 17, 1931. .1. w GREENLEAF ET AL 1,792,979

DETECTOR FOR INSULATED WIRE] MACHINES Original Filed July 15, 1,922

Patented F eb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN W. GREENLEAFAND EDWARD A. MAU, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, AS-

SIGNORS TO ROCKBESTOS PRODUCTS CORPORATION, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DETECTOR FOR INSULATED-WIRE MACHINESApplication filed July 15, 1922, Serial No. 575,356. Renewed November24, 1926.

This invention relates to circuit cont-rolling devices for use withdetector circuits in insulated wire machines.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a circuitcontrolling device that will indicate a defect or failure in theapplication of an additional layer of insulating material to a conductorthat has been previously supplied with one or more covering or coatinglayers.

Devices have been heretofore known and used for detecting failures ininsulation by electrically controlled means, but such devices, so far aswe are aware, have depended for their operation upon the defect in theinsulation exposing the wire core to thereby effeet the closing of acircuit through the wire.

VVe have found that a defect in an outer layer of insulation can bedetected although inner underlying layers are intact by utilizing thedifference in thickness of the outer insulation after the same isapplied. We achieve this by providing a circuit controller including apair of jaw-like members normally tending to close against each otherand between which the insulated wire passes and holds the jaw membersapart by a fixed distance represented by the diameter of the wire withits insulating covering. It will be clear that a break in theinsulatingmaterial will produce a corresponding decrease in the diameterof the wire and permit the jaw members to approach each other. Means arepro vided for utilizing the relative movement of the jaw membersinvolved in their nearer approach to each other for changing thecondition of an electrical circuit to control the operation of a signal.

Preferably a circuit controller is made use of which includes contactmakers carried directly by the jaw members at a location relativelyremote from the wire and at the opposite sides of a pivotal connectionbetween the members. Means are also provided for moving the circuitcontroller out of engagement with the wire and for separating the j awmember to place the members in operatmg en agement with the wire.

In t e drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention inlhown, Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly indiagrammatic form of a portion of a wire insulating machine equippedwith a circuit controlling device and embodying the features of thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the circuit controlling device on anenlar ed scale and taken along the line 2-2 of figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a view from underneath of the device shown in Figure 2 takenalong the line 3-3.

Referring to the drawings, an insulated wire machine is shown in part inFigure 1 which includes a framework 5 and a supply reel 6 from which thewire 7 which is to be insulated is drawn and ,covered with a strip ofinsulating material 8 as it passes through the insulating head 9. Thewire 7 may .have been previously coated with a layer of insulation insome previous operative step and for the purpose of this invention isnot necessarily uncoated wire although the invention is useful with wirethat has not been previously coated or covered.

In order to detect a break in the layer of insulating material which isapplied to the previously coated wire as it passes through theinsulating head 9, a circuit controlling device 10 is mounted in hingedrelation on the framework 5 and extends forwardly into a position inwhich the frame piece 11 oocupies an inclined position and carries asecond member 12 which is hinged and pivoted to the first member 11 atthe point 13. The parts 11 and 12 are respectively provided withforwardly extending jaw members 14 and 15 between which the insulatedwire passes as it leaves the insulating head 9. The jaw members 14 and15 of the circuit controlling device are urged by the action of a leafspring 16 toward a closing or clamping position against the interveningsection of insulated wire 7. In other words, the jaw members are heldapart a certain fixed distance equivalent to the diameter of the wirepassing therebetween. Upon failure of or a break in the insulating layerintended to be applied by the insulating head 9 a decrease in diameterwill occur as will be clear in the section of wire passing through thejaws and permit the jaws to approach each other to an extent sufficientto bring about the operation of a circuit controller about to bedescribed.

The rearward end of the member 12 is provided with a metallic extension30 which serves as an electrical contact member and to which is attachedthe terminal of an electrical conductor 25. The remaining frame member11 of the devicelO is provided at an intermediate portion of its lengthto the rear of the pivotal point 13 with a metallic clip 19 having aU-shaped formation, one leg of the U-shaped member being attached to theupper side of the frame piece 11 and the lower leg of the memberextending downwardly and underneath the contact member 30 carried by themember 12. Each of the members 11 and 12 are formed of insulatingmaterial such as fiber or the like. The U- shaped clip member 19 isprovided with a screw contact member 20 which has threaded engagementwith the lower leg of the clip 19 and can be adjusted and locked into afixed position by means of the locking member 21 in a well known manner.This adjustment of the member 20 provides for the operation of thecircuit controller in accordance with different diameters ofdifferent-sized wire which may be operated upon.

The upper leg of the clip member 19 has conducting engagement with ametallic strip 23 which extends from the clip 19 rearwardly to a hingemember 24, one leaf of which is attached to the metallic frame piece 5of the machine.

The electrical conductor 25 which has already been referred to as havingconducting engagement with the contact member 30 leads to a lamp 28 orother suitable signaling device and from the lamp 28 to a suitablesource of current 26 and from the source of current 26 by way of theconductor 27 to ground on the metallic framework of the machine.

The operation of the device is as follows: Upon a break occurring in theinsulating material 8 which is being applied to the wire the decrease inthe diameter of the insulated wire section passing through the jawmembers 14 and 15 of the circuit controller permits the jaw members toapproach each other and thereby to cause the contact member 30 to moveinto engagement with-the contact screw 20 which has metallic contactwith the clip member 19. The engagement of the contact 30 with thecontact screw 20 closes the circuit through the lamp or other signalingmember 28 and thereby indicates to the operator of the machine that abreak or defect has occurred in the insulation which must be Anotherfeature of the invention, resides in the double pivotal connectionbetween the member 12 and the member 13. By reference to Figure 3 itwill be seen that the member 12 can be swung about a substantiallyvertical axis to the dotted line position shown in this figure. Thisprovides for the removal of the lower jaw member 15 from position inorder to bring about the engagement of the upper jaw 14 with the wirefollowed by the movement of the lower jaw 15 to place to bring about theclamping engagement of the pair of jaw members with the interveningconductor 7. The inner side of the U-shaped clip member 19 is preferablyprovided with insulating material as at 22 to prevent contact of thecontact member 30 directly with the clip member 19 as will be seen.Thespring member 16 may have its pressure regulated by means ofadjusting screw 17 with an accompanying lock nut 18. It will be seenthat the hinge member 24 provides for the swinging of the circuitcontroller out of engagement with the wire 7 to permit of threading ofthe wire through the machine without interference therewith by thecircuit controller. It will be seen that the location of the contactmembers 20 and 30 at a point to the rear of the pivotal point 13 andspaced a relatively substantial distance from the wire 7 insures themaintaining of the contact free from particles of insulating materialthat would tend to gather thereon if the contact members were locatedadjacent the jaw members 14 and 15.

In addition to the insulation breakdown detecting function of the devicewe provide also, in a preferred form of the invention, means forautomatically calipering or gauging the insulated conductor as it passesthrough the machine. This gauging means may conveniently consist of anenlarged head member 31 on the screw 20, the periphery of the bead 31being provided with a suitably calibrated scale for cooperation with apointer or index member 32 carried by the member 11. It will be clearthat the setting of a scale mark on the head 31 into alinement with thepointer 32 can be utilized to determine a predetermined minimum diameterof the insulated conductor below which the circuit will be closed tooperate the signal. Thus a departure below the predetermined minimumdiameter of the insulated, as well as defects therein, will be indicatedby the device. It will be clear that the measuring device may be variedin any desired manner and may include a Vernier adjustment wherecircumstances require.

It will also be clear that an additional set of contacts and measuringdevices can be employed when desired to provide an indication for adiameter of conductor exceeding a certain maximumas well as forindicating a diameter less than a fixed maximum.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we 'do not limit ourselves to theexact details shown, as the same is capable of modification andvariation, which will lie within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a device for automatically testing insulated conductors, a pair ofjaw-like members hinged together, spring means tending to cause themembers to close together at one end, to thereby engage a conductortraveling between .the members at said end, contact points on the otherside of the hinged connection, said contact members being operated toengage by a decrease in the amount of separation of the jaw members atthe side of the hinge adjacent the conductor, whereby a break orabnormally thin spot in the conductor will operate said contacts.

2. In a device for automatically testing insulated conductors, a pair ofjaw-like members hinged together at points intermediate their ends,spring means tending to cause the jaw members to close together at oneend and to clasp an interposed moving conductor, contact members carriedby said members at the side of the hinge remote from the conductor, saidcontact members being arranged to be brought into contact by a decreasein the amount of separation between the corresponding portions of thejaw members, and one of said contact members being adjustable to varythe extent of movement of the jaw members necessary to close thecontact.

3. In a device for automatically testing insulated conductors, a pair ofjaw-like members hinged together at points intermediate their ends,spring means tending to cause the jaw members to close together at oneend and to clasp an interposed moving conductor, contact members carriedby said members at the side of the hinge remote from the conductor, saidcontact members being arranged to be brought into contact by a decreasein the amount of separation between the corresponding portions of thejaw members and one of said contact members being adjustable withrelation to the other contact member.

4. In a device for automatically testing insulated conductors, anelongated member hinged at one end to the frame work of a machine andadapted to rest upon a traveling conductor at its other end, a memberhinged to said elongatedmember and having one end arranged to engage theunder side of the conductor, spring means tending to move the conductorengaging portions of the jaw members into engagement, a contact membercarried by the other end of the lower ing brought into contact by adecrease in the amount of separation of the corresponding ends of themembers, and one of said contact members having a threaded engagementwith its seat and an enlarged head provided with a scale on theperiphery, and a stationary pointer cooperating with said scale.

6. In a device for testing the insulation of a conductor or the like, apair of opposed members having opposed ends resiliently urged towardeach other, one of said members having both of its endsswingable towardand away from the other member and having a contact member movable withone of its ends, and another contact member dis posed in the path of themovement of said first contact member, whereby said contacts will engagewhen the opposed ends of said opposed members are permitted to 'movetoward each other.

7. A device for testing the insulation of a conductor or the like,comprising a pair of opposed members of insulating material, saidmembers having opposed ends resiliently urged toward each other toengage a conductor therebetween, one of said members being pivoted forswinging movement of its ends toward and away from the other and havinga contact member mounted thereon and disposed upon the end remote fromthe conductor engaging end thereof, and another contact member disposedin the path of the movement of said first contact member, whereby saidcontacts will engage when the conductor engaging ends of said opposedmembers move toward each other a predetermined amount and means tolungedly secure said device to a supporting memher.

8. In a device for testing the covering of when said conductor engagingend of said member moves toward the conductor.

9. In a device for testing the covering of a conductor or the like, apair of op osed members, the ends of one member icing adapted to movealternately toward and away from the other member, one of said endscooperating with a portion of the other member to engage opposite sidesof the conductor. a contact upon the end opposite the conductor engagingend, and a cooperating contact upon the other member, said contactsbeing disposed relatively to each other to engage when said conductorengaging portions move toward each other.

10. In a controlling device for electrical circuit-s, a member having anend adapted to engage the surface of an elongated article to restlightly thereon while the article is being fed lengthwise, the other endof said member having an electrical contact thereon, another electricalcontact disposed in cooperating relation to engage and being normallyspaced from the first mentioned electrical contact, said member beingswingably mounted upon a support, and means to retain the articleengaging end of said member against the surface of the article, wherebyirregularities on the surface of the article will aflect the spacedrelation between said contacts.

11. In a controlling device for electrical circuits, a member having anend adapted to engage the surface of an article to rest lightly thereonwhile the article is being fed lengthwise, the other end of said memberhaving an electrical contact thereon, another member having anelectrical contact thereon in cooperating relation to the firstmentioned electrical contact for engagement therewith, said membersbeing pivotally secured together for relative lateral swinging movementto dispose srid contacts out of cooperating relationship.

12. In a controlling device for electrical circuits, 0. member having anend adapted to engage the surface of an article to rest lightly thereonwhile the article is being fed lengthwise, the other end of said memberhaving an electrical contact thereon, another member having anelectrical contact thereon in cooperating relation to the firstmentioned electrical contact for engagement therewith, said membersbeing pivotally secured to gether for relative lateral swinging movementto dispose said contacts out of cooperating relationship, and means tohingedly secure said device to a support.

13. In a controlling device for electrical circuits, a member having anend adapted to engage the surface of an article, and an electricalcontact upon the other end, another member having an article engagingend and an electrical contact disposed thereon in cooperating relationwith the first mentioned electrical contact to engage the same, saidmembers being pivoted together intermediate their ends for swingingmovement relatively to each other to simultaneously permit movement ofsaid article en aging ends and said contacts toward each ot er.

14. In a controlling device for electrical circuits, a member having anend adapted to engage the surface of an article, and an electricalcontact upon the other end, another member having an article engagingend and an electrical contact disposed thereon in cooperating relationwith the first mentioned electrical contact to engage the same, saidmembers being pivoted together intermediate their ends for swingingmovement relatively to each other to simultaneously permit movement ofsaid article engaging ends and said contacts toward each other and topermit swinging movement of one member relatively to the other to causethe article engaging end thereof to be disposed out of article engagingposition.

15. In a controlling device for electrical circuits, a member having anend adapted to engage the surface of an article, and an'electricalcontact upon the other end, another member having an article engagingend and an electrical contact disposed thereon in cooperating relationwith the first mentioned electrical contact to engage the same, andcommon means connecting said members intermediate their respective endsto permit one of said members to swing laterally with respect to theother out of article engaging position, and to permit its articleengaging ends and the contact thereon to move toward the respective endand contact of the other of said members.

16. In a controlling device for electrical circuits, a member having anend adapted to engage the surface of an article, and an electricalcontact upon the other end, another member having an article engagingend and an electrical contact disposed thereon in cooperating relationwith the first mentioned electrical contact to engage the same, saidmembers being pivoted together intermediate their ends for swingingmovement relatively to each other to simultaneously permit move ment ofsaid article engaging ends and said contacts toward each other, andmeans to hingedly secure said device to a support.

JOHN W. GREENLEAF. EDWARD A. MAU.

